Health Foundation responds to latest Urgent and Emergency Care Situation Reports

Commenting on the publication today of the Urgent and Emergency Care Situation Reports for weeks ending 22 and 29 December 2024, Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said:   

'Today’s statistics demonstrate the huge pressure flu and other seasonal viruses are putting on our health system this winter. Over the last five weeks, acute hospitals lost over 97,000 bed days due to flu, more than the 25,000 in the same weeks last winter and slightly more than the very tough winter of 2022/23. 

'While hospitals have opened additional beds, many are effectively full and high occupancy levels are putting further strain on emergency care, leading to longer waits in A&E and delayed ambulance handovers. 

'While the current pressures on the NHS are being exacerbated by seasonal viruses, these annual winter struggles are more a reflection of a health system that lacks resilience following years of austerity before the pandemic.  The government has rightly pledged to bring down elective waiting times, but today’s data show that there are significant strains being felt right across the health service that also need urgent attention.'

Notes to Editors

1. The latest Urgent and Emergency Care Daily Situation Reports can be found here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/uec-sitrep/urgent-and-emergency-care-daily-situation-reports-2024-25/

Media contact 
Nick Codling 
nick.codling@health.org.uk 
020 8152 8116